Think "Duncan Hines," and you might instantly picture the delicious cake mix aisle at the grocery store. But did you know Duncan Hines wasn't a baker at all? He was actually an adventurous road-tripper and food critic before his name became synonymous with sweet treats!

Born in 1880, Duncan Hines spent years traveling across America as a traveling salesman, racking up miles on the dusty roads long before Yelp or Google Maps were a thing. Along the way, he began sampling meals at roadside diners and local eateries. 

Hines wasn't shy about giving his opinion—he started jotting down notes on the best and worst places to eat, publishing these reviews in a 1935 book called "Adventures in Good Eating." It was an early version of a restaurant guide, and soon travelers all over the country relied on Hines’ recommendations to avoid sketchy diners and find great meals.

Hines' reputation as America’s first food influencer grew, and his name became a symbol of quality. Eventually, he teamed up with a company to put his seal of approval on packaged foods, leading to—you guessed it—the birth of Duncan Hines cake mixes. The first box of Duncan Hines cake mix hit shelves in the 1950s, and the rest is dessert history!